Rambam and others have created lists of the 613 mitzvot (commandments) of the Torah. The mitzvot are scattered throughout the Torah. There are five of them in parsha Beha’alotcha.
- Three of them are positive and two are negative
- Four of them are given in direct correlation of the second Pesach offering
- The fifth one is repeated in two verses
This is another one of those things I really wanted to have a compiled list. I will begin here because, “why not?” I will include the Scripture, English translation, whither it’s positive or negative, the number it is on the list and other small details I can quickly find about them.
Before we jump into the list, I must explain …
None of these mitzvot can be kept today. Mitzvot that cannot be observed today primarily relate to the Temple, it’s sacrifices and services (because the Temple does not exist) and criminal procedures (because the theocratic state of Israel does not exist). 1
1. Numbers 9:11
11 in the second month on the fourteenth day at dusk they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs;
(Positive Mitzvah #57) – In vv.6-9, there is a group of men who are unclean because they have been exposed to a dead man’s body. They want to give the offering so they ask Moses, why are they kept from presenting the Pasach offering. Moses inquires of Adonai and He gives this mitzvot (commandments) and the following three.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in tractate Pesachim.
2. Numbers 9:11
11 in the second month on the fourteenth day at dusk they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs;
(Positive Mitzvah #58) – The second mitzvot (commandment) is about eating the flesh of the Paschal lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. (See Exodus 12:8)
The details of this mitzvah are explained in tractate Pesachim.
3. Numbers 9:12
12 they shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break a bone thereof; according to all the statute of the passover they shall keep it.
(Negative Mitzvah #119) – The third mitzvot is the first of two negative mitzvot and it is about not leaving any flesh of the Paschal lamb brought on the second Passover until the morning. (See Exodus 12:10)
4. Numbers 9:12
12 they shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break a bone thereof; according to all the statute of the passover they shall keep it.
(Negative Mitzvah #122 ) – The miztvot of not breaking the bones of the second Pasach offering is the same miztvot for the first Paschal lamb. (see Exodus 12:46)
The law of this mitzvah are explained in the seventh chapter of tractate Pesachim.
5. Numbers 10:9-10
ט וְכִֽי־תָבֹ֨אוּ מִלְחָמָ֜ה בְּאַרְצְכֶ֗ם עַל־הַצַּר֙ הַצֹּרֵ֣ר אֶתְכֶ֔ם וַֽהֲרֵֽעֹתֶ֖ם בַּֽחֲצֹֽצְרֹ֑ת וְנִזְכַּרְתֶּ֗ם לִפְנֵי֙ יְהוָֹ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וְנֽוֹשַׁעְתֶּ֖ם מֵאֹֽיְבֵיכֶֽם:
י וּבְי֨וֹם שִׂמְחַתְכֶ֥ם וּֽבְמֽוֹעֲדֵיכֶם֘ וּבְרָאשֵׁ֣י חָדְשֵׁכֶם֒ וּתְקַעְתֶּ֣ם בַּֽחֲצֹֽצְרֹ֗ת עַ֚ל עֹלֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וְעַ֖ל זִבְחֵ֣י שַׁלְמֵיכֶ֑ם וְהָי֨וּ לָכֶ֤ם לְזִכָּרוֹן֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֹ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם:
9 And when ye go to war in your land against the adversary that oppresseth you, then ye shall sound an alarm with the trumpets;and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.
10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your appointed seasons, and in your new moons, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt-offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace-offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.’
(Positive Mitzvah #59) – This miztvot is concerning the blowing of the silver trumpets. They are blown during the times of adversity and over the offering and sacrifices.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the Sifri, in Rosh Hashanah, and in Taanis.
Notes:
- http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm ↩